MSAD #4

Honorary degrees were presented to twin brothers Vincent and Victor McKusick during UNE's May 10, 2008 Commencement. Among his many achievements, Vincent McKusick served as chief justice of the Maine Supreme Judicial Court, and Victor McKusick is the recipient of this country's highest science honor, the National Medal of Science, for his work in the field of genetics.

Excerpt from former governor McKernan's address: 

President Ripich, Chief Justice McKusick, Dr. McKusick, distinguished guests including
my wife, Olympia, ladies and gentlemen.

It is truly a pleasure to join with such accomplished company to receive an honorary
degree from this distinguished institution – the University of New England -- and to
deliver your 2008 commencement address.

I love ironies -- and today there is a particularly enjoyable one.

You see, when I was sworn in as Maine’s 70th Governor over twenty years ago in January
of 1987, the theme of my Inaugural Address was the imperative of improving education
and heightening the aspirations of our children if Maine was to become what I called “the
Opportunity State.”

And I addressed that necessity by saying, and I quote:

“I can think of no better way to help raise the aspirations of Maine children than by
relating to them the successes of other Maine children.

I want children in Piscataquis County to know about two brothers, twins, who grew up in
Parkman, 50 years ago. I want them to know that those brothers, raised on a dairy farm
and educated in the town’s one-room schoolhouse, worked hard, set high goals, and
achieved them.

The children of Parkman should know that one of those brothers [Victor] is now a world-
renowned geneticist. And they should also know that his twin, Vincent McKusick, who
happens to be seated to my right, is now the Chief Justice of the Maine Supreme Judicial
Court.”

I recount this story today-- twenty-one years later-- not just because of the irony that
President Ripich would ask me to be your commencement speaker in the year that the
McKusicks would also be receiving honorary degrees, but because their life stories are
still instructive for all of us here today.

They are examples not only of success in terms of position and accomplishment, but
indisputably they illustrate how we can make a real difference in the lives of others.

Ralph Waldo Emerson said that success was to “know that one life has breathed easier
because you have lived.” Well, by any measure, both McKusicks in their careers have
exemplified Emerson’s definition many times over. And all of you receiving your
degrees today have the opportunity to do the same – especially as you are now among
those who statistically will have a significant advantage across multiple facets of your
life.

The full address is available at: http://www.une.edu/studentlife/graduation/pdf/McKernanAddress.pdf and is attached to this story.

Short biographies of the McKusicks are available at: http://www.une.edu/ur/news/caschpcommencement08.asp A pdf of this link is also attached to this story.